David Hall has fond memories of World Team Cup

The first time Italy staged the wheelchair tennis World Team Cup in 2002 was the last of four occasions that David Hall led Australia to the men’s title.

With the Italian city of Alghero hosting this year’s edition of the event, Hall looks back on the World Team Cup with fond memories.

“I played my first in 1990 and I think missed one, so I’ve done something like 14 World Team Cups,” said Sydney 2000 gold medallist Hall, one of wheelchair tennis’ most decorated players.

“Each year I’d look at the calendar to decide where I was playing and mark down the big events; the Super Series, the Japan Open, every four years the Paralympics and, of course, the World Team Cup.

“It was always a unique event and when we all got together as a team the feelings were so strong. I would rank winning the World Team Cup up there with winning the US Open (Super Series) and the British Open titles.”

Hall’s career saw him crowned International Tennis Federation world champion six times between 1995 and 2004, and is one of four wheelchair tennis players to have currently been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

He also triumphed at least once at every major tournament in the sport, finishing his career with a total of six Paralympic medals over four Games.

“In those early days I was finding my way and the World Team Cup gave me the opportunity to play players I’d never played before,” adds Hall.

“I guess the one that stands out for me was our very first World Team Cup title in 1994 in Nottingham, Great Britain.

“We beat France in the final. I beat Laurent Giammartini, then world No.1, for the first time that day and it was the springboard to giving me the belief that I could go on and beat the best.”

Hall only had to wait another two years for another Australia victory and the first of two World Team Cup triumphs to come in a Paralympic year.

“When we won in 1996 it was special for another reason as we were playing at home in Melbourne and I was playing at No. 1, so we were expected to do well. But to win it on home soil for the only time was truly memorable,” Hall recalled.

“In Paris, France, in 2000, there was a lot of good tennis. We nearly went out to the Swedes in something like the second round, but we got through that to reach the final against the Netherlands.

“I played Atlanta 1996 gold medallist Ricky Molier. I had numerous great battles on court with him. We had very different games and we just seemed to bring the best out of each other, so to win that was big for me. And then, of course, to go on and win the gold medal in Sydney.”

Full story can be read on the International Tennis Federation’s website.